Farmington one win away from return to D-III final

Sunday

Oct 31, 2010 at 3:15 AMOct 31, 2010 at 12:14 PM

By Adam Whiteawhite@fosters.com

FARMINGTON — Trailing Portsmouth Christian Academy two games to one in Saturday's Division III quarterfinal, Farmington High School volleyball coach Jenn Kuehl promptly reminded her team that the season was on the line.

That it was now or never.

The second-seeded Tigers (16-2) responded by winning the next two games, and the match, to punch their ticket in Wednesday's semifinal at Plymouth State University. Farmington, which won the D-III championship last season, will face off with No. 3 Epping (16-2) at 6:30 p.m. Game scores from Saturday were 25-20, 29-31, 25-27, 25-16 and 15-13.

Both coaches called the match one of the best they'd been a part of all season.

"It was a great effort from both sides," Portsmouth Christian coach Rick Veno said. "It was a tremendous back and forth match. When it looked like someone had it, they didn't have it. They took the first one, we came back at them with two great wins, and then they were able to get the last two. It was a lot of fun."

The Eagles finished the season at 11-7.

"I'm really proud of the girls for coming back," Farmington coach Jenn Kuehl said. "PCA's a very scrappy team and they played the best I've seen all year tonight. I think mental toughness was big for us when they went up 2-1. Our girls have been down before and they know how to come back. It was wild to the end, though."

The Tigers jumped out to a 10-4 lead in the fifth game, and then held off a late Eagles' comeback to win 15-13. Kayla Squires had a pair of key aces, while Marissa Peart had three huge kills to lead the way. Squires finished with 15 kills, 10 digs, six aces and two blocks. Peart had nine kills and a block.

"We really wanted to make it back to Plymouth and defend our title," Squires said with a grin. "We lost some our biggest hitters from last year, and we've worked really hard this season. We want it bad."

The Tigers were also without one of their best hitters Saturday night. Kuehl reported that junior Felicia Wachowiak (team's leader in kills) has withdrawn from the school and is no longer on the volleyball team. She did not play in Thursday's playoff opener.

"I think it's affected us because Felicia's a really good player," Squires said. "Us outside hitters knew we had to pick it up with our middle out."

"I'm proud of the girls for pulling together," Kuehl added. "Everyone's contributing right now and that's making the difference."

The Eagles jumped out to a 9-0 lead in the second game, only to see Farmington fight back and eventually tie the score at 23-23. Fourteen points and six ties later, Brandie Rice finally gave PCA the 31-29 win on an ace.

The Eagles took game three in dramatic fashion as well, winning 27-25.

After falling behind two games to one, Kuehl addressed her team during the timeout.

"I just reminded them that we're at the point in the playoffs where you have to be aggressive, you have to be intense, and you have to leave everything on the floor because there isn't a next game if we don't win this one," she said. "We were able to get the momentum back on our side in the fourth game, and the girls kept their composure to close it out in the fifth."

Veronica Anatone led the way for the Eagles with 23 digs and 13 kills, while Laura Egan had a stellar match at the service line, going 29 for 31 with 10 aces. Abra Roberts finished with 29 digs and eight kills, and Yvonne Dean-Bailey had four blocks.

"Both teams made their share of mistakes, but we made a few too many in the last game and that put (Farmington) over the top," Veno said. "I could tell the kids were getting a bit tired at the end, but I really couldn't have asked for more."